1 . A field trip to Pacific Science Center is a time-honored tradition for students of all ages across Washington state. Our hands-on exhibits, shows, and innovative programs ignite students’ curiosity for science in a day of exploration to enhance your curriculum and spark a lifelong interest in science, math, engineering, and technology.
In addition to General Admission, PacSci offers extra experiences to enhance your learning and support your curriculum, including:
Documentary IMAX Movies: During the school year, we offer Teacher’s Choice where teachers can book one of two open documentary slots, if your school is the first to book. Email our School Groups team for a complete list of documentaries.
Daytime Laser Show: Be dazzled by a Daytime Laser Show in our Laser Dome. Packed with 10,000 watts of concert sound, experience a one-of-a-kind show on one of the largest geocentric domes dedicated to lasers!
Planetarium Show: Enjoy a live, immersive presentation in the Willard Smith Planetarium. Blast off to the universe’s outer reaches or explore the planets in our solar system. There is always something different to experience! Seating is limited to 36 students and four chaperones（监护人）.
PricingBelow is a pricing table for our field trip.
| Add-On Experience | Ticket Type | Rate Per Person |
| IMAX | Field Trip Student | $4 |
| Laser | Field Trip Student | $10 |
| Planetarium | Field Trip Student | $6 |
| Field Trip Extra Chaperone | $17.95 |
1. What is special about Pacific Science Center?
| A．It has a fascinating collection of art exhibits. |
| B．It provides students a chance for ancient technology. |
| C．It is only open to public and private schools. |
| D．It is a place where students can learn about science. |
| A．Documentary IMAX Movies. | B．Daytime Laser Show. |
| C．Planetarium Show. | D．General Admission. |
| A．$40. | B．$57.95. | C．$77.95. | D．$117.95. |
2 . A shadowy figure sits alone in a room, his face dimly lit by a computer screen. With a grin, he types in a series of computer commands, and in the blink of an eye, someone’s bank account is drained to zero.
In today’s digital age, cyberattacks like this happen thousands of times per day. Hackers can steal money, information, or completely take control of a machine from anywhere in the world. However, not all hackers are villains.
Some hackers, called white hat or ethical hackers, are individuals who make the most of their hacking skills to identify security vulnerabilities (漏洞) in hardware, software and networks. Their job is crucial in preventing cyberattacks and safeguarding sensitive information. The term “white hat” originated from old cowboy movies, where heroes wore white hats and villains wore black ones. Like the heroes in cowboy movies, white hats seek to stop the bad guys and save the day.
White hat hackers only seek vulnerabilities legally, often working on open-source software or with authorized access to systems. Once these weak spots are identified, companies or individuals can take steps to prevent serious breaches and losses. White hat hackers use a variety of different techniques to keep the internet safe. Penetration testing, for example, allows them to mimic cyberattacks and uncover system weaknesses. Security scanning tools allow white hats to identify holes in a network’s security systems. Simulating denial-of-service attacks (DoS attacks) helps companies prepare for attacks against their websites.
Many of the world’s top white hat hackers began their journeys on the wrong side of the law. A prime example is Kevin Mitnick. This notorious hacker once held the title of “most wanted hacker” in the U. S. due to his cybercriminal activities in 1995. However, after being arrested and spending five years in jail, his life took a remarkable turn. Mitnick decided to use his hacking skills for ethical purposes, eventually establishing his own cybersecurity consulting company.
If you aspire to be a white hat hacker, start by building a strong foundation in computer and network fundamentals. Good luck, computer cowboy!
1. What does the underlined word “villains” in Paragraph 2 mean?| A．evil-doers. | B．heroes. | C．attackers. | D．victims. |
| A．They wear white hats in cowboy movies. |
| B．They do everything to safeguard people’s information. |
| C．They legally use their professional skills to help people. |
| D．They find vulnerabilities for personal gain without doing harm. |
| A．they obey the law |
| B．they identify security weak points |
| C．they take measures to stop serious losses |
| D．they build their own cybersecurity consulting companies |
| A．To teach us how to stay secure online. |
| B．To tell us how to be top white hackers. |
| C．To warn us of the dangers of cyberattacks. |
| D．To introduce defenders of the digital world. |
3 . How to prevent stress from turning into depression
A few years ago, I had a bad day at work. My boss and I disagreed on a major financial investment and the conversation escalated.
Change the scene
Go outside, go to the bathroom, call a friend, take a few deep breaths. I didn’t realize I had done this after my fight with my boss.
Recount what happened
Name your emotions
As you describe what happened, name your emotions. For example, instead of saying you simply feel “bad,” maybe you actually feel “indifferent.” I turned to a therapist to help me unpack my fight with my boss. She helped me realize that it wasn’t my boss or the argument that was making me upset, but the feeling of being dismissed and made to feel small.
Identify your causes
Examine what gives you discomfort. For example, if you have terrible road rage, you may have a conversation with yourself about it. You might ask yourself. Why am I prone to being so angry on the road? Is it because I am in a rush? Or is it because I hate sitting in traffic?
So now, when I find myself in this circumstance, I tell the other person that I need time and space to consider their feedback. And that I’ll come back to them when I’m ready. This helps me feel more in control of my feelings.
| A．Then, find ways to improve the situation. |
| B．Go over your situation again and create a narrative. |
| C．That allowed me to see a different perspective on the issue. |
| D．I had trouble sleeping and focusing, and I felt like I was on high alert. |
| E．They criticized me and said that I just didn’t have enough experience. |
| F．When you are not feeling good, your body is trying to tell you something. |
| G．After our argument, I left the office immediately and went for a long walk. |
4 . European wildcats could be reintroduced to England more than 200 years after they became extinct in the country. The project has been announced by UK wildlife charity Wildwood Trust.
European wildcats are one of the UK’s rarest mammals. The only wild population, numbering fewer than 300 individuals, lives in the Scottish Highlands but they are on the verge of extinction, partly because they have bred with local feral cats (wild-living domestic cats).
Supporters hope to save the species in the UK by reintroducing them to England and Wales, where they died out around 200 years ago because of hunting and loss of habitat. To bring back the species, Wildwood Trust is planning to build 10 new breeding facilities on two sites in Kent and Devon. Kittens bred in captivity but away from humans will then be released into the wild. The University of Exeter is researching places where the animals could be reintroduced.
European wildcats are around the same size as a large domestic cat, but at up to eight kilograms they are slightly adult heavier. They have a tabby-like pattern with thick black stripes on their bodies and a bushy tail and like to live in forests but near open grassland. They’re also famously shy and keep their distance from humans. Laura Gardner, director of conservation at Wildwood Trust, told The Times newspaper that people should not be worried by the thought of wildcats returning to the wild. “We’re not talking about wolves,” she said.
Wildwood Trust says that its project can benefit both the wildcats and the habitats where they live. They are one of the few native predators left in the UK, so a healthy population of wildcats could help to control the numbers of animals they prey on, such as rabbits and rodents. By competing for the same food as foxes, they will also help to reduce fox numbers and restore a balance to nature.
1. What is the aim of the project?| A．To save wildcats from dying out. | B．To ensure wildcats’good habitats. |
| C．To raise money to protect wildcats. | D．To build some new breeding facilities. |
| A．Wildcats are very shy animals. | B．Wildcats are not as fierce as wolves. |
| C．European wildcats are unique animals. | D．Wildcats cannot pose a threat for humans. |
| A．Wildcats will threaten the number of other animals. |
| B．Wildcats and its habitats will be well protected. |
| C．Wildcats can contribute to ecological balance. |
| D．Wildcats are one of the few predators left in the UK. |
| A．Wildwood Trust Announcing a Plan. |
| B．Rare Wildcats Making a Comeback. |
| C．Reintroducing Wildcats Benefiting Us. |
| D．Wildcats Disappearing From the World. |
5 . An 80-foot floating library, built in 1963 and called Bokbaten in Norway, visited around 250 small communes along the west coast of Norway twice every year before 2020. Many of the villages along the west coast of Norway are most easily accessible by boat rather than car, so in 1959, a group of librarians got government funding to s art a waterborne library service with special on stress on children’s literature.
Large enough to hold around 6, 000 books, the boat also hosted readings, children’s pays, and other cultural events onboard. It traveled along the coast on 64-day tours during the fall and winter months, welcoming up to 150 children at a time and unloading books for each community to keep until the boat made it swayback the next time around. In summer, the library was repurposed as a tourist boat.
But in 2020, it looked like it might be the end for the library. After nearly 60 years in action, the popular boat had its funding cut by the government, which ended the floating library program. “The book boat is a floating house of culture, which means a lot to thousands of children in the communities that don’t have a good library offering,” Norwegian librarian and author Stig Holmas wrote on Facebook at the time. “It has large numbers of visits,” he went on, adding: “What a shame!”
Luckily, 28 local municipalities (市政当局) banded together in support of the beloved library, helping organize 88 cultural events to make people realize the importance of the boat between August and November 2021. Then, in February 2022, the Fritt Ord Foundation, a private Norwegian nonprofit, provided the library with nearly $300, 000 to keep the program running. Later that year, journalist Maria PileS vas and, whose grandfather built the library, was employed as manager for Bokbaten.
The boat is now a traveling bookstore, and it continues to carry on the tradition of inviting authors, actors and musicians to come aboard and perform live readings for children.
1. What do we know about Bokbaten?| A．It also held a variety of activities. |
| B．It was not that popular in the summer. |
| C．It was suggested by the 250 communities. |
| D．It allowed people to keep the book for 64 days. |
| A．Relieved. | B．Shocked. | C．Puzzled. | D．Angry. |
| A．They provided enough funds for the library. |
| B．They helped to promote the value of the library. |
| C．They invited Maria Pile Svasand to manage Bokbaten. |
| D．They set up the Fritt Ord Foundation to raise funds for Bokbaten. |
| A．Why the floating library in Norway is so popular |
| B．The establishment of a floating library in Norway |
| C．How a floating library in Norway was saved |
| D．The influence of a floating library in Norway |
6 . Rising food prices have taken a big bite out of what Canadians are able to serve up for dinner but food economists say our ability to cope has been deteriorated by our common decline in cooking skills. “We are less able to cook than we were 30 or 40 years ago, and so it’s much more difficult for us to adapt our diet,” said Mike von Massow, an associate professor at the University of Guelph.
A 2010 federal government report called Improving Cooking and Food Preparation Skills, the most recent of its kind, said that all across the population, processed and pre-prepared foods have been permitted. “Related to this permission is the potential lack of transference of basic, traditional cooking and food preparation skills from parents to children and adolescents,” the report reads.
Moreover, the quality of pre-prepared foods in the market remains uneven, with problems related to the lack of detailed labelling on such products, as well as difficulties in logistics and distribution.
Annie Belov, a 21-year-old student, has taught herself a lot about cooking since food prices started shooting up. “When the inflation (通货膨胀) wasn’t as bad, I was constantly eating out,” said Belov. That might mean food on campus or picking up a prepared item at Safeway when the price was still around $5, she said.
Belov now often makes dishes such as Caesar salad, as well as hearty pasta salads that combine carbs with vegetables and a bit of chicken. Belov said she’s a lot more efficient in the kitchen thanks to building her skills through trial and error. “Now, definitely more than before, I can kind of look in the pantry or in the freezer and be like, ‘OK, yeah, I can make a meal quickly and easily.’”
It’s important to note, however, that cooking skills alone cannot solve the affordability problem, said Elaine Power. And in 2023, Food Banks Canada says food insecurity is rising with inflation and the high cost of living. So while cooking skills can better position people to feed themselves and their families as best they can in forced circumstances, “that doesn’t, and can’t, make up for income that is inadequate in the first place.”
1. Which is the closest in meaning to the underlined word in paragraph 1?| A．worsened. | B．interrupted. | C．puzzled. | D．upset. |
| A．Failing to attract diners. |
| B．The loss of cooking skills. |
| C．Difficulties in keeping its flavors. |
| D．Shortage of fresh ingredients. |
| A．She suffers a tough financial patch. |
| B．She ends up showing a love of cooking. |
| C．She used to dine out at a restaurant. |
| D．She receives cooking education in schools. |
| A．Lower cost of living. | B．More cooking at home. |
| C．Food security status. | D．Increased income. |
7 . Mars exploration is a significant scientific expedition and it’s like the Apollo missions on the Moon 50 years ago. While human-led missions to Mars seem likely in the coming decades, what are our prospects of long-term habitation on Mars? Scientists have found a way to grow cyanbacteria, also known as blue-green algae (水藻), on Mars. It’s a discovery that could lead to human habitation of the Red Planet.
Cyanobacteria are tiny living things found in water. They release oxygen during photosynthesis (the process by which organisms use sunlight to make their own food). The algae can also transform other gases, such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen, into nutrients, substances that help living things grow. Scientists think that a huge rise in the numbers of cyanobacteria 2.4 billion years ago is what made Earth’s atmosphere breathable.
Mars’ atmosphere is mostly made up of carbon dioxide and nitrogen and there is little oxygen in Mars’s atmosphere. So researchers are hoping the blue-green algae could be used to allow plants to grow there too, for food and medicines. However, it is impossible to grow blue-green algae on Mars naturally. To solve this problem, a team of scientists from the University of Bremen, in Germany, have developed a special bioreactor (生物反应器) called Atmos. A bioreactor is a machine for growing microbes. Using this, the team, led by Dr Cyprien Verseux, showed how cyanobacteria could be grown using resources found on Mars.
Not only did the algae grow as hoped, but they also helped other organisms, such as bacteria, to grow. The bioreactor is still just a test version. It just starts and there is still a long way to go. However, Verseux hopes that the results can inspire a system that could one day support life on Mars.
1. Cyanbacteria could play a significant role in human habitation on Mars because ________.| A．they make their own food |
| B．they improve photosynthesis |
| C．they release oxygen and nutrients |
| D．they absorb carbon dioxide and nitrogen |
| A．Improving the bioreactor. |
| B．Inventing a special machine. |
| C．Using resources found on Mars. |
| D．Experimenting growing microbes. |
| A．Positive. | B．Objective. |
| C．Skeptical. | D．Conservative. |
| A．Mars Exploration Is Becoming a Hot Issue |
| B．Scientists Are Testing Bioreactor to Grow Algae |
| C．Human Habitation on Mars May Not Be a Dream |
| D．Cyanobacteria Could Be Key to Living on Mars |
8 . Laugh Your Worries Away
Have you ever laughed so much you simply couldn’t stop? Perhaps your body has keeled over with laughter or you have “got the giggles” at an inappropriate moment. As World Laughter Day approaches, read on to find out why chuckling puts a smile on your face and is good for you.
Laughter is a sound you make involuntarily. When you laugh, you are using the muscles in between your ribcage. This squeezes air out of you, causing you to make a noise. There are other effects too: laughter causes 15 muscles in your face to contract (move), leaving you with a big grin.
Why do we laugh?
Is laughter really good for me?
Not only does laughter connect you to others but it can also help when you’re feeling down or worried. Scott says, “Laughter is a very important way to deal with stress.”
What if I’m not in the mood to laugh?
It’s possible and normal to laugh when feeling sad.
| A．What is laughter |
| B．When do we laugh |
| C．Surprisingly, it has very little to do with your sense of humor |
| D．Sometimes, people use laughter to lighten an awkward or upsetting situation |
| E．What’s more, laughing with friends or family can make you feel safe and secure |
| F．Endorphins, or feel-good chemicals in your body, are released when you laugh |
| G．Evidently, laughter, recognized as the best medicine, can help us lift our spirits |
9 . Smart phones provide a palm (手掌)-size window to the world, enabling us to do almost anything at the touch of a button. Smart homes look after themselves, and virtual meeting s mean that for many, time spent commuting is a thing of the past.
So we should have more free time. Time which is now spent sleeping, relaxing or simply doing nothing-right? We recently interviewed 300 people across Europe to understand how they used digital devices in day-to-day life. This research showed that people want to avoid empty periods of time in their lives, so they fill those periods performing tasks, some of which wouldn’t be possible without technology.
Whether it was waiting for a bus, waking in the morning, or lying in bed at night, our research reported that time which would previously be “empty” was now filled with brain training apps, creating lists of things they should do or try based on their social media feed, and other life admin.
On the face of it some of these tasks may seem like examples of tech saving us time. In theory, online banking should mean I have more time because I no longer need to go to the bank in my lunch break. However, our research suggests that this is not the case.
If the idea that you have more time than ever before is making you choke on your coffee, you are not alone. There is growing evidence that while digital technology may help us to save some time, we end up using that time to do more and more things. For many people, it is no longer enough to simply eat dinner, watch TV or maybe do an exercise class. Instead, in an attempt to avoid wasting time, these activities are performed while also browsing the web in search of the ingredients for a more perfect life and trying to develop a sense of achievement.
It seems that people still see going for a walk or actually being with friends as more valuable than being online. Maybe if we put down the phone a little more, we would have the time to actually cook those recipes we watch online.
1. What conclusion can be drawn in the first paragraph?| A．Technology makes our lives easier. |
| B．We can’t live well without modern technology. |
| C．Virtual meeting is a thing of the past. |
| D．A smart home offers you luxury and convenience. |
| A．It is an essential means of relaxation. |
| B．It does good to perform daily tasks. |
| C．It is secretly stolen by technology. |
| D．It forces people to do more work. |
| A．It’s not too late to get free time back. |
| B．Lunch break can be saved by online banking. |
| C．Doing little or nothing is sometimes OK. |
| D．Technology leads to a denser form of life. |
| A．Students in on-line learning. |
| B．Employees working in the bank. |
| C．People relying on digital devices. |
| D．Researchers in the technological lab. |
Your home can be a dangerous place, but by making it safer you can prevent accidents. The kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom are where most accidents happen. These can include falls, fires, poisoning, cuts, hot water burns, and electric shocks.
THE KITCHEN
People may slip when the floor is wet, so make sure the floor is kept dry.
Always cut away from your body when you use a knife.
Follow instructions for all electrical appliances.
Unplug all appliances after use.
THE BEDROOM
•Never smoke in bed.
•Keep a lamp near the bed.
•Have a telephone near the bed, especially when you’re feeling ill.
•Don’t run electrical wires under carpets.
THE BATHROOM
•Don’t plug in an electrical appliance or use one while standing in water.
•Don’t use a hairdryer near a bath containing water.
•Keep the bathroom floor dry.
•Make sure that your hot water heater is set at a low temperature.
PREVENTING FIRES
Fires can cause terrible damage to your home and terrible injuries to people. If there is a fire, your first priority is getting everyone out of the house safely, and then calling for help. Never go back into a burning building to save your things.
•Buy clothes, curtains, and toys that do not burn easily.
•Use heaters very carefully, as they can set objects on fire.
•Place them away from furniture.
•When cooking, do not let oil touch the fire or other sources of heat.
•Check electrical wires a number of times each year to make sure they are in good condition.
•Switch off your gas and electricity when you will be away from home for a long time.
•Make sure your home is equipped with fire extinguishers.
CHILDREN AND HOME SAFETY
Homes are not always safe places for young children.Being curious, they may stick their fingers or objects into dangerous places and end up suffering from electric shocks or getting burnt. In addition, they may try to eat or drink anything they can find, whether it is food or not. For these reasons, it is important to make your home safe if you have young children about.
•Keep matches out of the reach of children.
•Store all cleaning materials in a locked cupboard.
•Never leave a small child alone in the bath.
•Put covers over electrical outlets.
•Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
MAKING YOUR HOME SAFE FOR THE ELDERLY
The elderly present special challenges, as they may have trouble moving about and can be seriously hurt in falls. If you have an elderly person in your home, you may need to take some extra measures to make your home safer.
•Make sure that passages within the home are kept clear.
•Put non-slip bath mats in and next to the bath and shower.
•Put handrails along passage walls and in the bathroom.
1. Which is not included in the common accidents around the house?| A．Smoking. | B．Falls. | C．Electric shocks. | D．Poisoning. |
| A．storing all cleaning materials in a locked cupboard. |
| B．putting handrails along passage walls and in the bathroom. |
| C．following instructions for all electrical appliances. |
| D．keeping the bathroom floor dry. |
| A．You should make sure that your hot water is set at a low temperature. |
| B．You shouldn’t run electrical wires under carpets. |
| C．You should keep all medicines out of the reach of children. |
| D．You don’t have to have your home equipped with fire extinguisher. |
| A．Newspaper. | B．An advertisement. |
| C．A home-safety manual (使用手册). | D．The Internet. |
